The Salomon Quest Prime GTX Review That You'll Love!

Every year, outdoor footwear manufacturers taunt and tempt us with brand-spanking-new batches of hiking boots that promise us ever-greater things.

The press release drops, we read the tantalizing, gushing description of the goods on offer, salivate a little as we imagine ourselves stomping merrily around in reams of comfort on far-flung trails, and then promptly take to the store or our go-to online retailer to part with our cash.

Sometimes, these new offerings deliver on their promise; other times, they deliver very little to justify the huge whack of $ we pay to get our hands on them and we can’t help but feel, well, a little bit cheated by the brand’s marketing folks.

In the past decade or so, the Salomon Quest range has proven to be one of the most popular the world over, scooping awards galore and earning plaudits from pretty much every publication going. When the latest iteration of the Quest—the Quest Prime GTX—appeared on the market in 2018, therefore, we were a little bit skeptical.

Was this just another vaguely updated boot with just a few, mainly aesthetics tweaks were thrown in to help convince us to part with our cash? And, more importantly: if it ain’t broke, why fix it? With the Quest 3D and 4D, after all, Salomon seemed to have the lightweight backpacking boot category well and truly covered.

Below, we’re going to answer these questions with an in-depth review of the Salomon Quest Prime GTX. Before we get down to that, though, let’s take a look at the features and facets that go into the making of a good hiking boot to help you decide if the latest of Salomon’s many worthy offerings is the boot for you.

What to look for in a pair of hiking boots

Comfort

Hiking boots that don’t perform well in terms of comfort are like cars without wheels—that is, almost entirely useless. In short, while you might get away with a slightly uncomfortable rain jacket or pair of gloves, an uncomfortable pair of boots is going to be downright prohibitive to making any progress and lead to a lot of unnecessary aches and pains. Comfort, therefore, is king.

Other than the sizing, four factors, in particular, will determine just how comfortable or uncomfortable a hiking boot will prove to be: the midsole, weight, stiffness, and breathability.

Midsole

Without a suitable midsole, our feet can succumb to a variety of ills, namely strain, stress and trauma caused by repeated impact with the terrain and/or any particularly sharp or protruding rocks underfoot. All of these potential injuries are more common among backpackers, who are likely to be carrying heavier packs and, as such, place more pressure on their feet.

A boot’s midsole, in combination with the outsole, is our most significant line of defense, absorbing the blows and providing the cushioning, support, and stability, required for a more comfortable ‘ride.’

Midsoles vary greatly as regards their shock-absorbing capacity. Most models of boot use either an EVA or polyurethane (PU) midsole. EVA midsoles are usually featured on more lightweight models and can range from very thin to almost cushion-like, whereas polyurethane midsoles are typically tougher, more substantial, but also more expensive and slightly heavier.

As a general rule, EVA midsoles are a good bet for day-hiking boots or hiking on well-maintained, smoother trails, while PU midsoles perform better on rockier, uneven, steeper terrain, and provide more support for backpackers carrying heavier loads.

Stiffness

A hiking boot’s stiffness is one of the foremost determiners of the terrain type for which it is best suited. Stiffer boots are, typically, better suited to steeper terrain and snow because the sole remains level when your toe comes into contact with the slope, thereby giving you more purchase and a more powerful step.

While this can reduce calf fatigue on steep ascents, it’s almost certain to be overkill on more moderate, maintained trails and less steep terrain. For the thru-trekker or backpacker, a very stiff sole is usually not advisable as the terrain covered is generally less technical and the gradients less acute.

Weight

The heavier the boot, the more work your legs will need to do. While a few ounces might not seem like a big deal in the store or while breaking them in around the house, recent research has shown that heavier boots can cause us to burn through our energy reserves far quicker than when using lightweight models. In short, those few added ounces of weight can make a big difference over long distances on long days on the trails.

But it ain’t quite so simple…

Most heavier boots are heavier for a reason, and in most cases that added weight goes into a handful of attributes that might well be worth having in certain conditions, including added support, stability, ruggedness, and durability. On the ‘con’ side, heavier boots are also likely to be more cumbersome, bulky, and lead to leg fatigue far more quickly.

For those who like to move quickly and aren’t carrying a heavy pack, some lightweight hiking boots will serve your purposes more than adequately. If you’re a backpacker, however, and anticipate taking trips into rougher terrain, then the extra support, protection, and durability provided by a heavier boot will likely be greatly appreciated.

Breathability

A boot’s level of breathability will usually result in a trade-off with waterproofing and ruggedness. Usually, the more waterproof a boot is, the less able it is to shed moisture vapor (sweat) from the inside, and if it uses a rugged, single-material construction then it’s less likely to ventilate well compared to boots with integrated synthetic or mesh panels.

As a general rule, boots made with leather and nubuck or suede uppers and Gore-Tex (or similar) linings are poorer performers in the breathability stakes but offer more robust materials and superior water resistance to highly breathable boots that use mesh or synthetic inserts in the upper.

The latter of these two varieties may well be a better choice for occasional summer hiking on well-maintained trails, but for backpacking and travel in tougher terrain are unlikely to serve you well in the long term.

Water Resistance

Even if you tend to do most of your hiking in good weather, some degree of water resistance in your boots is always advisable in case the weather gods decide to spice things up on your day out in the mountains by throwing in a surprise downpour or two or your trails involve short stream crossings and/or are riddled with puddles.

Most hiking boots offer waterproofing in the form of a Gore-Tex or similar linings (Keen. Dry or Vasque UltraDry are two other examples) and/or a DWR (durable water-resistant) coating on the exterior, but many models of lightweight boot forego a waterproof liner in order to keep weight to a minimum and enhance breathability.

Where and the conditions in which you do your hiking or backpacking will determine the best choice for your needs. If you’re a fair-weather hiker or happen to spend most of your time on sticky desert hikes, then a waterproof liner is only likely to result in your feet becoming as soaked in sweat as they might have been if assaulted all day long by airborne H20, so in this case, you might want to opt for a cheaper, liner-free alternative that offers more breathability.

If, however, you’re a bit of an all-weather warrior prone to hitting the trail no matter what the meteorological outlook or plan on hitting the trails on multi-day thru-hikes when some degree of wet weather is almost inevitable, then we’d highly recommend opting for a pair of boots with a reliable waterproof lining.

Sole Traction and Grip

The outsole on a hiking boot is responsible for providing you with the traction and grip required to maximize energy efficiency and prevent you from spending more time than you’d like on your backside during your hike. Different brands and models of boot use different types of rubber and different treads, all of which offer varying levels of performance and are more or less well suited to different types of terrain.

A few general observations can be made as regards the tread and lug found in different hiking boots:

More ‘aggressive’, multi-directional sole tread patterns typically offer more stability, traction and grip on muddier and wetter terrain but also tend to increase the weight of the boot, whereas less aggressive treads, though often lighter, don’t provide as much confidence on steep ground and when conditions are damp underfoot.

For those who envision using their boots to climb peaks or hike in wet-weather, we recommend an aggressive tread with multi-directional patterns and deep-cut lugs that will improve traction and provide greater grip when moving up and downhill.

If you foresee using your boots on more moderate trails and are a fair-weather hiker, a shallower tread will most likely be perfectly adequate.

The type of rubber used in a boot’s outsole is also an important factor to consider, as this will determine how well it adheres to surfaces underfoot. There are dozens of varieties of outsole out there, but the two most impressive and reliable performers are Vibram and Salomon’s ContaGrip, both of which provide a nice, reassuringly sticky feel even on the damp and slippery rock.

Durability

Our hiking boots are more subject to wear and tear than almost any other gear item in our backpacking kit. Unfortunately, the need to maintain a lightweight design, breathability, and dexterity often means that many boots compromise on long-term durability, meaning that those of us apt to rack up the miles in our boots have to replace them every year or so.

In most cases, boots that use heavier, more substantial materials such as leather, suede or nubuck will usually prove to be more durable than ultralight models made with synthetic fabrics or a combination of synthetics and some form of leather.

These, however, can also lead to leg fatigue more quickly and may well be overkill for those who envision using their boots only sporadically and in gentler terrain.

Now we know what to look for in a hiking and backpacking boot, let’s get down to business with our review of the Salomon Quest Prime GTX.